Feb. 29, 2016, 10:28 a.m.

The debate over a new tax on healthcare plans — a lengthy, wonky affair that has consumed the Capitol for months — may finally come to a close on Monday.

Legislators are scheduled to vote on a package that will overhaul a tax on managed-care organizations, in an effort to secure more than $1 billion in federal money to help pay for Medi-Cal, the state's public healthcare program for the poor.

Here's everything you need to know about the complicated plan known in Sacramento shorthand as the "MCO" tax.

Feb. 29, 2016, 6:17 p.m.

Hollywood actor Rob Lowe has alleged that the former chairman of the state tax board made an anti-Semitic comment in a meeting held last year with Lowe’s wife and attorney to discuss a dispute over a tax bill.

The meeting was held with Jerome Horton, then the chairman of the state Board of Equalization, to discuss Horton’s opposition to a board decision that reduced a tax bill Lowe owes on the sale of his Montecito mansion for $25 million in 2005.

Lowe’s attorney, Mark Bernsley, warned the board Monday that he is reviewing possible legal action over public comments in which Horton implied Lowe underpaid his taxes.

Advertisement

>

Feb. 29, 2016, 5:28 p.m.

Feb. 29, 2016, 3:21 p.m.

Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, said in a statement Monday that she is disappointed Academy Awards host Chris Rock used Asian children as the punchline of a joke Sunday night.

In Rock's skit involving the tabulation of Academy Awards votes, he introduced the would-be PriceWaterhouseCoopers representatives overseeing the count.

“They sent us their most dedicated, accurate and hard-working representatives," he said. "Please welcome Ming Zhu, Bao Ling and David Moskowitz."